He is Risen! Happy Easter!
It's been a great week. I really enjoyed the opportunity to take the sacrament, to start over, and to rely on the enabling power of the atonement. I was able to sit next to a wonderful new convert, her name is Vida. She received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and then we began to sing the sacrament hymn, "I Know that My Redeemer Lives." I was surprised to look over and see tears of joy just streaming down her face. I was so happy just to share this Easter Sunday with her. One Elder also spoke and shared a wonderful testimony of the Savior. I am so grateful for the examples and testimonies of all the members here. They strengthen me so much.
I feel that a mission is a great gift to me, that I am learning a lot. Most of all, I'm learning to follow the spirit "Liahona" and build faith. Today I read first Nephi 16 and really enjoyed Nephi's account of how the Lord brought him understanding. It was a hard week for me physically as I have been down with a cold, but I was also able to receive a priesthood blessing of healing which contained some of the most inspired counsel I have ever heard. I feel that I have gained a better understanding of who God is. This new understanding will affect the way I live my life every day.
1 Nephi 16:29 And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.
Because Nephi's family gained a new understanding of the nature of God, they also felt that it was an important time to "tarry for a space." Though I will still do plenty of missionary work for the rest of my mission, I want to serve with more forethought, so that I can know where we need to be and when. Had the family not tarried for awhile, they would have missed enjoying the last of Ishmael's time here on Earth. I miss so many blessings when I am too busy and too rushed to feel the spirit. Listening is a spiritual skill. Hurrying is not among the Christ-like attributes.
1 Nephi 16:33 And it came to pass that we did again take our journey, traveling nearly the same course as in the beginning; and after we had traveled for the space of many days we did pitch our tents again, that we might tarry for the space of a time.
April 25, 2011
April 12, 2011
Letter - April 11, 2011
April Showers
Dear Everyone,
Can you believe how the time has flown? I’m sorry for being so terribly silent through emails. I have seen miracles happen here in Vilnius lately. We have three investigators who have set dates to be baptized. That’s unheard of. Each of the companionships here in Vilnius are doing equally well. I attribute it the blessings first to The Lord, but also to the faith of the members, who fasted in March for the missionary work of this area. The weather has been rainy, sometimes icy, and sometimes sunny, but always changing it's mind a couple times a day.
It was a spiritual feast to enjoy General Conference this week. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be serving in the mission field right now. I am hopeful as ever that we will continue to find humble men and women who wish to follow Jesus Christ. I am so blessed to hear from a living prophet and apostles. How wonderful that this year is the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible as well as the 75th anniversary of the Church welfare program. I hope to finish a faithful mission, to serve with every last bit of strength I have. I still lack courage sometimes (I know, hard to believe.) In some ways, I’m striving to get back some of that trainee fire that I had to talk to more people. I’m doing better missionary work than I’ve ever done, and there’s still a long way to go.
We will see one of our investigators baptized with two others on the 30th of May. He, along with two others, will be the first convert baptisms in the Vilnius Branch in about a year. The members here are so wonderful I can hardly stand it. They are some of the most giving people I know.
The investigators’ name is Vitalij. He started coming to English Class a few months ago. One lesson we invited all our students to come with questions about us which they would like us to answer. Rarely if ever do our students actually take us up on the offer, but he did. We were able to answer his questions to the class and give a simple testimony before showing, yes, the Restoration film. A week later, he asked for a Book of Mormon, and attended a baptismal service held that day. He read the entire book in a couple weeks, and accepts every commandment we teach him. He is humble and good. He said the Book of Mormon was pretty hard for him to understand the first time, so we taught him to pray for understanding. He says he can feel the spirit helping him to understand, especially since this second time through he’s reading in Lithuanian rather than Russian. I can hardly believe it. I can hardly believe how happy he is to receive the gospel. Hearing so many ‘no’s on my mission, as I’m sure everyone does, has just helped me to value all the more those ‘yesses.’
Jesus Christ is our Savior. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is His Church. Thomas S. Monson is His prophet. This is His work. I Love you all.
Sister Paul
You will complete your full-time missionary service here in the Baltic Mission on Friday, 24 June 2011 and return home. Further details and information relating to your departure will come to you in a few weeks.
You have answered the invitation of the Savior to follow Him. The principle He taught His disciples applies to you as well: “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” You have had your hands on the plow as you have been diligently serving. Keep your hands there and your attention fixed on the task at hand.
In fact, now is the time to lift your focus and diligence up one more notch. The Lord has work for you to do. The salvation of His children, who are your brothers and sisters, is depending on you. I have several suggestions to help you finish strong.
1. Keep the missionary schedule exactly.
2. Set daily and weekly goals and accomplish them—set goals for proselyting, study, and Christ-like attributes.
3. Keep diligently studying your mission language.
4. Keep your departure date to yourself.
5. Invite your companion (and district members) to never mention or discuss your departure—focus on today and talk about your investigators and how to accomplish your goals.
6. Invite your family to not discuss post mission plans in their emails—ask them to help you focus on serving with all your heart, might, mind, and strength.
7. If you have educational deadlines or to-do’s, get them done on preparation day and forget them.
8. Mentally avoid making plans or thinking about your home-coming. Focus all those thoughts to a month or two beyond your departure date and keep your thoughts vague. This keeps you from dwelling or getting caught up in events beyond your mission.
Dear Everyone,
Can you believe how the time has flown? I’m sorry for being so terribly silent through emails. I have seen miracles happen here in Vilnius lately. We have three investigators who have set dates to be baptized. That’s unheard of. Each of the companionships here in Vilnius are doing equally well. I attribute it the blessings first to The Lord, but also to the faith of the members, who fasted in March for the missionary work of this area. The weather has been rainy, sometimes icy, and sometimes sunny, but always changing it's mind a couple times a day.
It was a spiritual feast to enjoy General Conference this week. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be serving in the mission field right now. I am hopeful as ever that we will continue to find humble men and women who wish to follow Jesus Christ. I am so blessed to hear from a living prophet and apostles. How wonderful that this year is the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible as well as the 75th anniversary of the Church welfare program. I hope to finish a faithful mission, to serve with every last bit of strength I have. I still lack courage sometimes (I know, hard to believe.) In some ways, I’m striving to get back some of that trainee fire that I had to talk to more people. I’m doing better missionary work than I’ve ever done, and there’s still a long way to go.
We will see one of our investigators baptized with two others on the 30th of May. He, along with two others, will be the first convert baptisms in the Vilnius Branch in about a year. The members here are so wonderful I can hardly stand it. They are some of the most giving people I know.
The investigators’ name is Vitalij. He started coming to English Class a few months ago. One lesson we invited all our students to come with questions about us which they would like us to answer. Rarely if ever do our students actually take us up on the offer, but he did. We were able to answer his questions to the class and give a simple testimony before showing, yes, the Restoration film. A week later, he asked for a Book of Mormon, and attended a baptismal service held that day. He read the entire book in a couple weeks, and accepts every commandment we teach him. He is humble and good. He said the Book of Mormon was pretty hard for him to understand the first time, so we taught him to pray for understanding. He says he can feel the spirit helping him to understand, especially since this second time through he’s reading in Lithuanian rather than Russian. I can hardly believe it. I can hardly believe how happy he is to receive the gospel. Hearing so many ‘no’s on my mission, as I’m sure everyone does, has just helped me to value all the more those ‘yesses.’
Jesus Christ is our Savior. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is His Church. Thomas S. Monson is His prophet. This is His work. I Love you all.
Sister Paul
You will complete your full-time missionary service here in the Baltic Mission on Friday, 24 June 2011 and return home. Further details and information relating to your departure will come to you in a few weeks.
You have answered the invitation of the Savior to follow Him. The principle He taught His disciples applies to you as well: “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” You have had your hands on the plow as you have been diligently serving. Keep your hands there and your attention fixed on the task at hand.
In fact, now is the time to lift your focus and diligence up one more notch. The Lord has work for you to do. The salvation of His children, who are your brothers and sisters, is depending on you. I have several suggestions to help you finish strong.
1. Keep the missionary schedule exactly.
2. Set daily and weekly goals and accomplish them—set goals for proselyting, study, and Christ-like attributes.
3. Keep diligently studying your mission language.
4. Keep your departure date to yourself.
5. Invite your companion (and district members) to never mention or discuss your departure—focus on today and talk about your investigators and how to accomplish your goals.
6. Invite your family to not discuss post mission plans in their emails—ask them to help you focus on serving with all your heart, might, mind, and strength.
7. If you have educational deadlines or to-do’s, get them done on preparation day and forget them.
8. Mentally avoid making plans or thinking about your home-coming. Focus all those thoughts to a month or two beyond your departure date and keep your thoughts vague. This keeps you from dwelling or getting caught up in events beyond your mission.
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